National Championship Hysteria

          The bowl season has been in full swing. Innumerable games before very empty stadiums. To promote tourism. To enrich the coffers of the groups sponsoring or owning the rights to the games themselves. Fueled nicely via corporate sponsors and the almighty television revenue. So that the winner can crow about being a victor at a mediocre 7-6 while some teams actually have losing records before the contest and then lose again? At least classes are, for the most part not impacted, unless of course you look into the early bowls where I guess the student-athletes on scholarship have enough academic moxie and intellectual fortitude to weather practicing and playing during final exams.

          These are some of the reasons why I have hardly watched any bowls during the current season. But now we are in the heart of the bowl frenzy, where the traditional "big" bowls with the really good teams are playing. New Year's Day used to be the sine qua non regarding bowl games. If you played in the Orange, Cotton, Sugar or Rose Bowl, you had made it to the great stage, representing your conference and your alma mater. Then it would be up to a bunch of writers or some coaches who used Sports Information Directors to vote for them and arbitrarily select a National Champion.

          This unscientific method morphed into much more as conferences expanded and the number of bowl games with their monetary payouts correspondingly increased. In many instances the money, whether shared withing the conference or disproportionately given to the bowl team itself, was the ingredient needed to put a bloated athletic budget into the black for another year.

          Thus, from multiple perspectives, bowl games were a veritable cash cow for those who reaped the benefits. At least at the higher level bowls. Many other programs floundered in the red going to a low to mid-level bowl for the status that it derived to loyal patron alumni and to the recruits who are needed every year to sate the thirst for success.

          Make absolutely no mistake--college football, and to some extent, college basketball is big business. With the resultant clamor over having a true national champion rather than a mythical one, yet keeping the enhanced bowl structure in place so that more than half of the Football Bowl Subdivision membership is active in December and January in a dome or a "warmer" weather site, there appeared to be a windfall of immense proportions out there.

          A National Championship playoff. It would settle all of the debates on the field. Once and for all. And with the networks blessing, everyone would get far richer.

          With much fanfare and a lot of negotiations among the "power" conferences who dominate the landscape of big time football and led to the flurry of conference realignments and additions, a committee was developed to use a formula and vote, at meaningful periods leading up to the designation of four teams worthy of playing for the title.

          So we have the playoffs. Rotating among the bigger bowls to satiate their desire to continue to host really important games, here we are this New year's Eve with two National semi-final games.

         What do I think of all of this? I think it is contrived and the whole bowl system is contrived. Sure, the Committee ranks teams below the top four so as to "fairly" stock the other games. Big deal. Those games are all show and have very little meaning other than aesthetically and, of course, financially.

         I look at the systems in place for The Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II and III along with every other sport that the NCAA sponsors. They work just fine. I still don't understand, absent my jaundiced view that the present bowl structure requires its red meat to sustain itself, why we, as fans continue to pander to this fraudulent way of reaching a winner.

        It would be far better to drop the number of games played by FBS teams to permit 16 teams to participate in a true National Championship. Without a committee using formulas to make their picks for the Final Four. That Committee, if still in existence, could rank the Top 16 teams for the Championship and THEN rate the teams accordingly from whatever sources or tie ins that have been negotiated so that the games can be continued.If the lower bowls needed to be perpetuated, they could still utilize teams that did not win or finish second in their conference. Should a couple of the lesser bowls fall to the wayside, it would still be a far better tournament and reward for those schools who truly merit another game or games to proudly reach a worthy conclusion to their seasons.

        Until then, I guess that I am stuck watching the games tonight when I get back from dinner. Maybe the Final will be captivating. Not quite as meaningful as the NCAA basketball tournament or any other championship. It's certainly not the Super Bowl either. Tell that to the fans, players and media. I wish them well in this charade.

       Cha-ching.



       

The Admiral & Steph

                                                       The Admiral and Steph

         I am in awe of what Stephen Curry does on an NBA court.

         I was in awe of what Stephen Curry did his last season at Davidson College.

         I was in awe of what David Robinson did on an NBA court.

        So, too was I in awe of what he accomplished in his last year at the United State Naval Academy.

        Let's start with the obvious--Curry is a 6'3" guard. Robinson was a 6'8" center/forward. They play different positions on a basketball court. Robinson had a Hall of Fame career. Curry is in the nascent portion of his career as he seems to be ascending to the Hall of Fame.

        Both men were big time scorers in the NBA. Robinson led the league in scoring for the San Antonion Spurs without taking a lot of 3 point shots, playing against some of the best big men the pro game has ever seen. Curry, with his acrobatic game as the Golden State Warriors point guard, seems to effortlessly drain 3 point shot after 3 point shot.

       Each one has won an NBA title--Robinson won 2. Robinson had a complimentary player who he mentored--a big man. Tim Duncan has nicely carved out a place in NBA history on his own but in Robinson's last season in San Antonio they combined to win an NBA title. Curry won last season with the help of fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson, a scoring machine, and Draymond Green, who can pass, rebound, score and defend within a big man's body.

      What made me think of each one was the mercurial rise each had in college. Robinson attended the Naval Academy and was granted special dispensation to continue there because of his height exceeding the Academy's limit of 6'6".  He was an All-American and player of the year in many circles. What he did was merely lead Navy, with its cadre of undistinguished but gritty players, to the East Region finals.

      Curry went to Davidson College outside of Charlotte where he grew up because all the major college programs deemed him too short and too slight. This was notwithstanding that his father, Dell Curry, had a fabulous career in the NBA, and he left the Charlotte Hornets as their all-time leading scorer. Steph Curry had a chip on his shoulder during his time at Davidson. He led them to 2 Southern Conference championships, 2 NCAA berths and some improbable wins and was an NCAA scoring leader before leaving after his junior year for the NBA.

      Immediately Robinson and Curry began to dominate the NBA upon their arrivals. It took Robinson, nicknamed "The Admiral" due to his tenacious play, a couple of years to win his first NBA title. Curry notched his first NBA title in his second year after improving his exceptional game even more. Robinson won a scoring title in 1994; Curry appears to be well on his way to winning the scoring title for 2015-16.

       Robinson's NBA resume is an impressive body of work accumulated over a 15 year career. 10 time All-Star, Olympian, NBA All-Defensive team multiple times, Most Valuable Player in 1995 and a member of the 50 greatest player squad for the NBA.

       Curry has a formidable start to his career. It is easy to predict that many of the accolades which Robinson garnered during his tenure with the Spurs will be attained by Curry although Robinson was ultimately to reach 7'1" in height while Curry will come no where near that. That, of course, does not make him any less the player that Robinson became.

       In one game for San Antonio, Robinson, a consummate team player, scored 71 points. Given his uncanny shooting and dribbling acumen, who would doubt that Curry could reach or surpass that amount in one game.

       David Robinson left a legacy in San Antonio and has become a cherished member of the community for the Academy he opened. Stephen Curry is young but has spoken up about gun violence and is a doting father of 2. Because he left Davidson after his junior year, he did not graduate and his number will not be retired by the College until he does so. If Curry, whose parents are solid role models themselves, is the person I think he is, he will eventually graduate from Davidson and establish a foundation to serve people better either in his home state of North Carolina or in the San Francisco Bay area.

       Two different players from two different eras. Veritable giants on the court and perhaps off the court as well, notwithstanding their physical differences. Both put their imprint on the NBA  with roots from small schools that no none could ever have thought could beat the big boys of the NCAA.

       Here's rooting for them today to continue their successes. What's not to like about them?

   

Peyton Manning & HGH

                                                       Peyton Manning & HGH

             Now it's Peyton Manning's turn to be scrutinized. He's not very happy about it. At all.

             A report from Al-Jazeera of all places has an identifiable source stating that in 2011 then Indianapolis Colts quarterback Manning used Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to assist in his recovery from very serious neck surgery. Supposedly the Performance-Enhancing Drug (PED) was sent not to Peyton but to his wife from an Indianapolis rehabilitation center.
         
           Manning has vehemently denied the allegations. He admits going to the center to use a hyperbolic chamber to aid in the surgical recovery, Manning stated that he went there with representatives of the  Colts training staff to supervise his recovery. He called the report "garbage, a "freaking joke," and indolently questioned why he would immerse himself in such drug use when recovering from a "broken neck." Both the Colts and his current team, the Denver Broncos issued statements supporting Manning's position.

          The credible source cited in the article, an intern at the facility who might not have even been working there when Manning was a patient, has pulled back from the report. This source stated that he went out on a limb to test the reporter by engaging in wildly speculative name dropping to see what the true angle was. The reporter was a former British hurdler who went undercover to expose the ongoing use of PED's by big name athletes.

          The article also mentioned a couple of other athletes--Ryan Zimmermann of the Washington  Nationals and Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies, both baseball players. An attorney representing both categorically denied the claims against his clients and indicated that he would pursue legal remedies for them. Curiously Manning made his statements in public--it was unclear if he had consulted with or had legal representation present at the time he countered the allegations.

         The public has become highly cynical when it comes to PED use in sports. It is not surprising that there is some cynicism regarding Manning based on the timing purported doping--before the National Football League instituted its ban on the use of PED's.

         But this kind of thinking has come about because icons have admitted to or seemingly used PED's to enhance their athletic abilities. For every Mark McGuire or Andy Pettitte who has acknowledged using some form of PED, there is the Lance Armstrong who vehemently disavowed using any steroids or PED's, only to tearfully admit to Oprah Winfrey that he lied. We, as fans, do not want to believe that our idols cheated in any way--the Jack Armstrong/super hero mind set persists.

         How would it appear if Derek Jeter used a banned substance in the wake of the vilification of Alex Rodriguez? Or how would the national sports consciousness react if Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, Le Bron James or now Stephon Curry used a PED?

         Football has always been suspect in terms of steroid use and other drugs to make the players bigger and faster. That type of mentality comes from the linemen and linebackers who needed to counteract the size and strength of the opponent by way of speed and agility along with brute force. Would it surprise anyone that quarterbacks, who have to endure a pounding to complete passes due to the quickness of the defense invading the pocket, are the next ones to use PED's?

         My answer to the rhetorical question is obvious. The answer as to whether Peyton Manning, one of the top 5 QB's EVER in the NFL resorted to using a PED to gain an athletic advantage and to accelerate his comeback to the competitive stage is not going to be answered so easily. And how will his legacy ultimately be affected?

         Do fans want Peyton to be clean? I think overwhelmingly yes given his place in the game and his commercial success and popularity. Somehow, they worry that he isn't and how that will further violate their belief in sports being played honestly and ethically on a level playing field.

         This game is ongoing just as Peyton, fast nearing the end of his career, seeks to return to play for Denver from another injury. As time inevitably erodes the skills of even the best performers, it is going to require time to sort this mess surrounding Peyton Manning in the search for the real truth. Time which Peyton does not have much of.

         I can understand why Peyton Manning is so mad. I would be too. If I were him.

Christmas Warriors

As the Golden State Warriors win streak kept on going, the hype began to point to one game that would be the streak buster—a December 25 Christmas Day show down with their rivals from the 2015 NBA Finals, the Le Bron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers. Of course, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Warriors in the finale of a 7 game road swing which punctured the streak. But there was still business to take care of when Le Bron James and his fully healthy crew came arrived at the O Arena. 

                Well, if the Warriors had to authenticate themselves this day, they did just that.  The Cavs were not at their best but they are tough and, unlike in the playoffs , they had a rusty Kyrie Irving and perennial All-Star Kevin Love, a rebounding machine with 18 total boards,  upping the state of this game. Yet the Warriors, down a number of key players and with all-everything Stephon Curry hobbling just a bit, managed to find a way to win.

Curry and fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson weren’t at the top of their games, largely due to the harassing defense that the Cavs provided.  This was a grind it out kind of game. Lots of contested layups, hard-fought jumpers and many rebounds were the order of the day.

In the end, three people made a difference in the outcome of this contest. There was Draymond Green, the big man who plays like he can start in any position on the floor.  Showing the ability of an All-Star and justifying his big off season contract, Green provided the hustle and determination with his drives to the hoop and his grittiness on the boards. His 22 points led the Warriors in scoring.

Shaun Livingston came off the bench and gave the struggling Warriors offense a needed lift. His hustle and burst to the basket along with key jump shots in an 8 out of 9 shooting performance was the offensive lift the Warriors desperately needed.  By the way, he guarded Le Bron, too.

But it may have been Le Bron who doomed the Cavs on this day. Normally James carries the team on his back. Today was no exception. Except that he wasn’t making all of his shots. He shot 10 for 26 and the Cavs as a team shot 31% from the field. Many of those missed shots led to free throws. There were a lot of free throws of which Le Bron simply did not convert, hitting 4 of the 9 he took. His stat line looked superficially okay, which included 2 dunks near the end of the game, but the Warriors made it difficult for him overall and that was the difference this day.

The Warriors celebrated Christmas at home with this win. They improved to 28-1 for this glorious start to the season and guarded their 14-0 home record which is now a streak of 32 consecutive wins at the O Arena stretching back to last season.

Fans can look to the January 18 rematch in Cleveland. Maybe the Warriors will be on another streak. They have yet to play the San Antonio Spurs who have quietly gone 25-6 this year. Nor have they met up with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Without starter Harrison Barnes, the team has found a way to win. But they are vulnerable and a bit lucky as a good Boston Celtics squad proved a couple of weeks ago in a 2 OT loss at home to Golden State. The next night, the Milwaukee Bucks handed the Warriors their lone defeat thus far.

Certainly the Golden State Warriors have been the story of the 2015-16 NBA season and reigning MVP Steph Curry has maintained and even improved his incredible play. They will lose another game. The home win streak will end, too. Until then we as fans will watch them in awe as they attempt to shoot for the Chicago Bulls all-time mark of 72 regular season wins.

At least on Christmas Day 2015 they were handed a present which they knew what to do with—another win, this time over a quality opponent. 

Patriots week

For the New York Jets this is a twice yearly event. Minimum. Patriots week.  

               

                Let the Todd Bowles regime downplay the significance because the Jets needed a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt. Let him soft-pedal that the loss to New England earlier this season when the Jets actually led the-then unbeaten Patriots in Foxboro only to have the incomparable Tom Brady and company surge back to win.

                Listen to the postgame rhetoric and disabuse yourself of the notion that this wasn’t a bigger win than just for the right to play one more week for that playoff spot. Then think of the players who have been here longer—Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie returned this year to get another shot at the Pats. David Harris and his defensive mates sure wanted redemption for all the losses—whether it was this October or the Mark Sanchez butt fumble disaster. Think this over time victory courtesy of a botched coin toss election by New England giving New York the ball is tarnished? Tainted? An undeserved holiday gift?

                No, this was a statement game for the Jets. Sure New England didn’t have all of its offensive firepower and the offensive line was ravaged by injury. The fact that All-Pro DB Devin Mc Courty of Rutgers didn’t play hurt the Patriots too. That didn’t stop Brady and the tight end behemoth Rob Gronkowski to bring New England to a tie late in regulation time. And one Patriots touchdown was the direct result of a fumble by Fitzpatrick when his arm was cocked and ready to pass.

As good as the defense was in harassing Brady behind the hodgepodge line and all but throttling the weak New England running game led by a retread, Stephen Jackson, the 18^th all time rusher in NFL history, the game was not won by defense alone.

This Jets team has a pretty good offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick, a so-called journeyman quarterback who started the season only because the incumbent, Geno Smith was the recipient of a broken jaw for ragging another player over a debt, has been a revelation.  Bolstered by the number one tandem in the NFL, wide outs Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, and a strong running game and an equally solid offensive line, Harvard-educated Fitzpatrick has teamed with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey to make the Jets a formidable team which can be hard to defend. They have made the right calls at the right times, been opportunistic and Fitzpatrick has made mostly good calls to run or target receivers without too many dire consequences.

The fact that the Jets went down the field in overtime without hesitation and capitalized on their one chance to score without giving the ball back to Brady was no fluke. This has been building during the course of the year. Fitzpatrick is on board with Gailey. Marshall and Decker are in sync with Fitzpatrick.  When Fitzpatrick and Decker connected for the winning score on the lone drive of overtime, it was this New York Jets team’s destiny.

What we have seen is the growth of a team. The current surge against Miami, the Giants, Tennessee, Dallas and now New England is the sign of a team peaking at the right time.  Seasoned pros with some talented rookies along with a number of players playing at an All Star level makes this kind of win happen.

So there will be a celebration of a well-deserved win over an arch-rival who has dominated the Jets of late. That is the nature of Patriots week. Then the focus will return to the task at hand—winning that Wild-Card spot in the 2015 Playoffs.

Wouldn’t it be sweet if they won next week in Buffalo, avenging an earlier loss on national TV to the Buffalo Bills led by ex-coach Rex Ryan, he of the bluster against the best coach in the game—New England’s Bill Belichik—who his Jets teams could never overcome?

It would be safe to get the answer to that question next Sunday. Especially if the Jets win again.

After all, that is Buffalo week—an occurrence which takes place twice a year. Minimum.